Thunder Dominate Magic in Wire-to-Wire Rout, Expose Orlando’s Ongoing Struggles
OKLAHOMA CITY - The calendar might say February, but for the Orlando Magic, Tuesday night felt like more of the same. A familiar script played out at Paycom Center, where the Oklahoma City Thunder flexed their muscle early and never looked back, handing the Magic a 128-92 loss that underscored just how much work still lies ahead for Jamahl Mosley’s squad.
This one was over almost as soon as it started. The Thunder, led by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20 points, jumped out to a commanding lead and never let Orlando into the fight. Oklahoma City led wire-to-wire, imposing its will on both ends of the floor and leaving no doubt about who the better team was.
A First Quarter to Forget
If Orlando was hoping to set the tone early, they did - just not in the way they intended. The Magic opened the game ice cold, hitting just one of their first eight shots and going nearly four minutes without a point midway through the first quarter. By the time the horn sounded on the opening 12 minutes, the scoreboard read 39-14 in favor of the Thunder.
That 18.2% shooting mark in the first quarter wasn’t just bad - it was the worst shooting percentage the Magic have posted in any quarter this season. For a team trying to stay above water in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race, that kind of start is a backbreaker.
Thunder Own the Paint
While Orlando struggled to find any rhythm offensively, Oklahoma City went to work inside. The Thunder were surgical in the paint, hitting 14 of their 20 shots near the rim in the first half alone. By the end of the night, they had outscored the Magic 60-26 in the paint - a staggering margin that speaks to both their offensive execution and Orlando’s inability to protect the interior.
This wasn’t just a case of one team getting hot. The Thunder, who boast the league’s best defensive rating, turned defense into offense with ease. They forced 16 Magic turnovers and turned those into 28 points - a 12-minute highlight reel of fast breaks, dunks, and wide-open looks.
Perimeter Woes Continue
If the Magic were hoping to shoot their way back into the game, that plan never got off the ground. Orlando missed its first 10 attempts from beyond the arc and didn’t hit a three until Moe Wagner connected early in the second quarter. They finished the night shooting 31.7% from deep - a number that looks better than it felt, especially considering how many of those makes came well after the game was out of reach.
The Thunder weren’t lights-out from distance either, shooting 34.3% on the night, but their balanced attack and ability to score in a variety of ways kept the pressure on Orlando all game long.
Rookies Get Run in Garbage Time
With the game well in hand, both teams turned to their benches. For Orlando, that meant extended minutes for rookies Noah Penda and Jase Richardson.
Penda, the French forward, showed flashes of promise. He scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting, grabbed five boards, and added a pair of assists in 24 minutes. He looked comfortable attacking the rim and wasn’t afraid to mix it up on the glass - a positive sign for the Magic’s long-term development plans.
Richardson, the team’s first-round pick, saw 13 minutes of action but failed to score. Still, every minute on the floor counts for a young player trying to find his footing in the league.
What’s Next
With the NBA trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. Thursday, the Magic return home to face the Brooklyn Nets that evening. Sitting at 25-24, Orlando is very much in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but nights like this one are a reminder that consistency - especially on the offensive end - remains elusive.
Whether the front office makes a move or not, the Magic need to find a way to start games with more urgency. Because in a league this competitive, you don’t get many second chances - and you definitely don’t survive many 41-point deficits.